Excedrin Migraine

One ingredient in this product is acetaminophen. Taking too much acetaminophen may cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Adults should not take more than 4000 milligrams (4 grams) of acetaminophen a day. People with liver problems and children should take less acetaminophen. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how much acetaminophen is safe to take.

Do not use with any other drug containing acetaminophen without asking your doctor or pharmacist first. Acetaminophen is in many nonprescription and prescription medications (such as pain/fever drugs or cough-and-cold products). Check the labels on all your medicines to see if they contain acetaminophen, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.

Uses

This product is a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine. It is used for the temporary relief of pain from conditions such as muscle aches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, or headaches (including migraine). Aspirin and acetaminophen relieve pain by keeping your body from making certain natural substances. Caffeine helps increase the effects of aspirin and acetaminophen.

How to use Excedrin Migraine

See also Warning section.

If you are taking the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read all directions on the product package before taking this medication. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, take it as directed.

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, or follow the product package directions. Drink a full glass of water (8 ounces/240 milliliters) with this medication unless your doctor directs you otherwise. If you are using the tablet form of this medication, do not lie down for at least 10 minutes after you have taken this drug. If upset stomach occurs, you may take it with food or milk.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than directed. Do not use this product for pain lasting longer than 10 days or fever lasting more than 3 days. Use the smallest effective dose. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

If you are taking this drug "as needed" (not on a regular schedule), remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.

If you are taking this product for headache, seek immediate attention if you also have: slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes. Before using this product, consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have: daily headaches; your first headache after age 50; a headache that is more severe or different from your usual headaches; headaches caused by head injury, coughing or bending; a headache with persistent/severe vomiting, fever and stiff neck. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if your migraine headache is not relieved, or if it worsens after the first dose.

Consult your doctor if your condition persists or worsens (e.g., new or unusual symptoms, redness or swelling of the painful area, pain or fever that does not go away or gets worse).

Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, trouble falling asleep, or a shaky/nervous feeling may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Stop taking this medication and tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe dizziness, fainting, persistent or worsening stomach pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, black/bloody stools, ringing in the ears, loss of hearing, irregular/fast heartbeat, change in the amount of urine, signs of infection (e.g., persistent sore throat or fever), easy bruising/bleeding.

Precautions

See also Warning section.

Before taking this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to aspirin or other NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib); or to other salicylates (such as choline salicylate); or to acetaminophen; or to caffeine; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This product should not be used if you have the following medical condition: aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen).

Consult your doctor or pharmacist for information on safe use of this product.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication.

This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco, especially when combined with this medicine, may increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Avoid alcohol and stop smoking. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially stomach/intestinal bleeding and ulcers, liver problems, and trouble falling asleep.

Children and teenagers less than 18 years old should not use aspirin, aspirin-containing or aspirin-related medications such as this product for flu symptoms or chickenpox without first consulting a doctor. A rare but serious illness known as Reye's syndrome may occur. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice changes in behavior with nausea and vomiting.

Aspirin in this product is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Do not use this product during the last 3 months of pregnancy because of possible harm to an unborn baby or problems during delivery. Consult your doctor before using this medication if you are or think you may be pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medication.

This product passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

See also Warning section.

If you are taking this medication under your doctor's direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Consult your doctor before using this product if you have recently received certain live vaccines (e.g., varicella vaccine, influenza intranasal vaccine).

This medication may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with other drugs that also may cause bleeding. Examples include anti-platelet drugs such as clopidogrel, "blood thinners" such as dabigatran/enoxaparin/warfarin, among others.

Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many contain pain relievers/fever reducers (acetaminophen, aspirin, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, celecoxib, naproxen) and if taken together with this product, may increase your risk for side effects. However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, sweating, burning pain in the throat and stomach, stomach/abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, yellowing eyes/skin, ringing in the ears, rapid/shallow breathing, irregular/fast heartbeat, change in the amount of urine, dark urine, confusion, agitation, seizures, loss of consciousness.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

If you use this medication regularly for a long time or at high doses, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., liver and kidney function tests) may be performed to monitor for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Because this product contains caffeine, taking it close to bedtime may give you trouble falling asleep. Limit the use of caffeine-containing medications, foods, or beverages while taking this product. If you take too much caffeine, you may become nervous or irritable, have trouble sleeping, or have fast heartbeat.

If you are taking this product for headaches, it is best to avoid certain foods that may trigger your headaches. Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise, and dietary changes may help prevent headaches. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

Missed Dose

If you take this medication regularly and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Information last revised June 2014. Copyright(c) 2014 First Databank, Inc.

Treatment by Condition Related to Excedrin Migraine

Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, expect as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

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